Hawthorne Hornets Girls Basketball Plays for the State Title

The Hawthorne Hornets girls’ basketball team will take on the Wildwood Wildcats in the class 1A State Championship on Friday night. This is the Hornets third appearance in the last four years. Their last state championship win was in 2020.

The championship game appearance will be the third in the last four years for the Hornets, who won the crown in 2020. https://t.co/uttowJXmou

— WCJB TV20 News (@WCJB20) February 23, 2023

A Great Season for Hawthorne Hornets

The Hawthorne girls finished their season with a 9-5 regular season record. Leaders for the Hornets include Dy’Mya Adams (18.8 ppg), Jaz’lyn Jackson (17.2 ppg) and Jhalea Jackson (9.5 ppg). As a team, they average 57 points, 11.2 turnovers and 20.5 steals per game. They have a strong offense, making 48% of their shots on the season.

Coach Ingram Built a Strong Team

Cornelius Ingram, head coach of football and girls’ basketball, talked about his team’s grit. When he coaches football in the fall, the girls’ basketball team can be found on the sideline as water girls. Ingram said he teaches them the hard work it takes through his work with the football team.

The Playoff Run

In the 1A state tournament, the Hornets won four out of five games by 11 points or more. The biggest victory was by 44 points in their first playoff game against Fort White. In their last game against two-time defending champions Ponce de Leon, Hawthorne won by five points. Team leaders Dy’Mya Adams and Jaz’lyn Jackson propelled the team after trailing by one point at the half. Adams scored 20 points and Jackson followed with 13 points and nine rebounds. Ingram was proud of the way his team pulled off a victory.

Next Up: State Championship

Hawthorne will take on Wildwood — the team that ended their season last year. Ingram said they are the toughest team the Hornets will face the whole season. Last season, the teams faced off in the regional finals, and Wildwood took a decisive victory (60-26). The Hornets “have a bitter taste in [their] mouth” after last game. Ingram talked about the team’s strategy going into the game. Their main focus will be to control Wildwood’s strong guards who will try to control the game with their speed.

Friday’s game will tip off at 7 p.m. in the R.P. Funding Center in Lakeland.